“Liberty” is the Italian name for the Art Nouveau style, an artistic and philosophical movement that characterized the end of XIX and beginning of the XX Century. It took different names in different countries (Art Nouveau, Liberty, Jugendstil, Modernismo, Secesija, etc…) and it represents the forerunner of modern design and architecture.

One of its peculiar traits is getting inspiration from nature. Curvy, dinamic lines give life to building structures and decorations, often spawning into particulars that resemble plants or flowers. Art Nouveau buildings are unmistakable and full of surprises.

I got interested in Art Nouveau because of a photographic contest held in 2015 in Italy. I didn’t win anything, but I took several pictures, mainly in Milan and Barcelona, and had a really hard time in picking up those to send to the contest. So, let me share them with you.

Italian Liberty

Milan is very rich in Liberty buildings. Some streets have been dug in central residential areas in the early XX century, and all the surrounding buildings are built in this style. I live very close to such areas, so I have spent a few days wandering around and every time I stepped into new details to portrait. It’s amazing!

I took a few pictures in Turin, too, during a couple of one-day trips.

The World of Art Nouveau

Barcelona is a wonderful city, where I have been many times, and one of its primary architectural attractions is, indeed, Modernismo. Architects like Antoni Gaudí, Lluís Domènech i Montaner or Josep Puig i Cadafalch designed astonishing, lively and colorful buildings that are world-famous. But there are many more, Barcelona is packed of Art Nouveau and it’s a bliss to walk through.